According to The Travel Edit 2014 By Kuoni, early indications are that Vietnam, Mexico and Cuba are already becoming three of the most requested long-haul destinations for 2014, set to rise even further up the best-selling holiday list by the end of this year.
Vietnam, Mexico and Cuba have been highlighted as three of the fastest-growing long-haul holiday destinations for British travellers, according to a new report out yesterday from worldwide travel company Kuoni.
The Travel Edit 2014 by Kuoni looks at the changing habits of British travellers based on sales data over the last three years across a number of holiday categories including wallet-friendly destinations, overall bestsellers, honeymoons and sightseeing experiences.
The report puts Vietnam at the top of the rising star destinations – the country has jumped nine places in the company’s best-selling destination list from 23 in 2011 to 14 in 2013.
Mexico has seen a huge leap from 29th best-selling destination in 2011 to 17th at the end of last year, thanks to its increasing range of high-quality all-inclusive hotels alongside gorgeous beaches.
And early indications are that Vietnam, Mexico and Cuba are already becoming three of the most requested long-haul destinations for 2014, set to rise even further up the best-selling holiday list by the end of this year.
Derek Jones, Kuoni managing director, said: “Vietnam has seen huge developments in its tourism industry over the last few years with investment in a wide choice of hotels and sightseeing options. Access to the country has become much easier since Vietnam Airlines launched direct flights from the UK in 2011 and we’re now seeing the impact of that – we expect to see it move into our top ten this year for the first time.”
But there’s no change to the number one bestselling destination for Kuoni for the ninth year running – the Maldives. Its mix of super-luxury resorts set on Robinson-Crusoe-style desert islands, as well as excellent activity options such as diving, sailing and visits to local villages means it continues its appeal not just for couples of all ages – but also increasingly for families.
An early indication of the bestselling destinations for the year ahead is also revealed based on advance sales until the end of January 2014:
- Maldives
- Thailand
- Sri Lanka
- United Arab Emirates
- USA
- Mauritius
- Malaysia
- Cuba
- Antigua
- Singapore
Other findings from the report include:
The rise of wallet-friendly worldwide trips: The value of the pound in many of Kuoni’s key destinations is so strong that the total cost of a long-haul holiday including on-the-ground expenses is now comparable with a European break. Club Bentota, set on a peninsula on Sri Lanka’s west coast between Colombo and Galle, tops the list of wallet-friendly hotels with prices from just £24 per person per night on all-inclusive.
More than fly and flop – must-do experiences on the up: From the Grand Palace Tour in Bangkok to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam and a Balloon Safari in Kenya to a trip down the River Kwai, demand for experiences and sightseeing trips is growing. Three tours in Vietnam are now in the list of best-selling experiences. The most popular is the Cu Chi Tunnels – the underground city that provided sleeping quarters and a command centre for up to 10,000 soldiers in the Vietnam War.
Weddings made in Mauritius: The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has taken over from Sri Lanka as the top spot for a sun-kissed wedding ceremony in the eyes of Kuoni customers.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
